O'Connor's Jasper overcomes devastating knee injury

Updated 11:39 pm, Sunday, April 1, 2012

Photo: John Albright, For The Express-News

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O’Connor’s Brittany Jasper (left) races upfield during last week’s district game against Clark at Farris Stadium. Jasper has rebounded from a devastating knee injury to lead the Panthers this season with 15 goals heading into tonight’s bidistrict game at Southwest.

O’Connor’s Brittany Jasper (left) races upfield during last week’s district game against Clark at Farris Stadium. Jasper has rebounded from a devastating knee injury to lead the Panthers this season with

O'Connor's Brittany Jasper (2) controls a ball near the sideline during a District 27-5A varsity girls soccer match between the O'Connor Panthers and the Clark Cougars at Farris Stadium in San Antonio on Tuesday, March 27, 2012.

O'Connor's Brittany Jasper (2) controls a ball near the sideline during a District 27-5A varsity girls soccer match between the O'Connor Panthers and the Clark Cougars at Farris Stadium in San Antonio on

O'Connor's Brittany Jasper (2) battles Clark's Britta Haglund (14) for control of the ball during a District 27-5A varsity girls soccer match between the O'Connor Panthers and the Clark Cougars at Farris Stadium in San Antonio on Tuesday, March 27, 2012.

O'Connor's Brittany Jasper (2) battles Clark's Britta Haglund (14) for control of the ball during a District 27-5A varsity girls soccer match between the O'Connor Panthers and the Clark Cougars at Farris

O'Connor's Brittany Jasper (2) is double teamed by Clark's Britta Haglund (14) and Frances Moore (4) during a District 27-5A varsity girls soccer match between the O'Connor Panthers and the Clark Cougars at Farris Stadium in San Antonio on Tuesday, March 27, 2012.

O'Connor's Brittany Jasper (2) is double teamed by Clark's Britta Haglund (14) and Frances Moore (4) during a District 27-5A varsity girls soccer match between the O'Connor Panthers and the Clark Cougars at

O'Connor's Brittany Jasper (2) celebrates after scoring a goal against Clark just 40 seconds into a District 27-5A varsity girls soccer match between the O'Connor Panthers and the Clark Cougars at Farris Stadium in San Antonio on Tuesday, March 27, 2012.

O'Connor's Brittany Jasper (2) celebrates after scoring a goal against Clark just 40 seconds into a District 27-5A varsity girls soccer match between the O'Connor Panthers and the Clark Cougars at Farris

O'Connor's Brittany Jasper (2) tries to control the ball during a District 27-5A varsity girls soccer match between the O'Connor Panthers and the Clark Cougars at Farris Stadium in San Antonio on Tuesday, March 27, 2012.

O'Connor's Brittany Jasper (2) tries to control the ball during a District 27-5A varsity girls soccer match between the O'Connor Panthers and the Clark Cougars at Farris Stadium in San Antonio on Tuesday, March

O'Connor's Brittany Jasper (2) looks to control the ball during a District 27-5A varsity girls soccer match between the O'Connor Panthers and the Clark Cougars at Farris Stadium in San Antonio on Tuesday, March 27, 2012.

O'Connor's Brittany Jasper (2) looks to control the ball during a District 27-5A varsity girls soccer match between the O'Connor Panthers and the Clark Cougars at Farris Stadium in San Antonio on Tuesday, March

O'Connor's Brittany Jasper during a District 27-5A varsity girls soccer match between the O'Connor Panthers and the Clark Cougars at Farris Stadium in San Antonio on Tuesday, March 27, 2012.

O'Connor's Brittany Jasper during a District 27-5A varsity girls soccer match between the O'Connor Panthers and the Clark Cougars at Farris Stadium in San Antonio on Tuesday, March 27, 2012.

Photo: John Albright, For The Express-News

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O'Connor's Brittany Jasper (2) prepares to take a shot during a District 27-5A varsity girls soccer match between the O'Connor Panthers and the Clark Cougars at Farris Stadium in San Antonio on Tuesday, March 27, 2012.

O'Connor's Brittany Jasper (2) prepares to take a shot during a District 27-5A varsity girls soccer match between the O'Connor Panthers and the Clark Cougars at Farris Stadium in San Antonio on Tuesday, March

O'Connor's Brittany Jasper (2) gathers with her teammates before a District 27-5A varsity girls soccer match between the O'Connor Panthers and the Clark Cougars at Farris Stadium in San Antonio on Tuesday, March 27, 2012.

O'Connor's Brittany Jasper (2) gathers with her teammates before a District 27-5A varsity girls soccer match between the O'Connor Panthers and the Clark Cougars at Farris Stadium in San Antonio on Tuesday,

O'Connor's Brittany Jasper (far right) holds her surgically repaired leg out to the right of the team huddle before a District 27-5A varsity girls soccer match between the O'Connor Panthers and the Clark Cougars at Farris Stadium in San Antonio on Tuesday, March 27, 2012.

O'Connor's Brittany Jasper (far right) holds her surgically repaired leg out to the right of the team huddle before a District 27-5A varsity girls soccer match between the O'Connor Panthers and the Clark

Taylor Blackwell of Brandeis (19) and Brittany Jasper of O'Connor battle during girls soccer action at Farris Stadium on Saturday, March 10, 2012.

Taylor Blackwell of Brandeis (19) and Brittany Jasper of O'Connor battle during girls soccer action at Farris Stadium on Saturday, March 10, 2012.

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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O'Connor's Jasper overcomes devastating knee injury

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Brittany Jasper told anyone who would listen that night — coaches, teammates and trainers — that she was going to be all right. It was probably just a bruise. That maybe after icing her left knee a little bit, she would be ready to play in the second half.

But as the adrenaline faded that chilly February 2011 night at Farris Stadium, reality sank in.

Jasper, O'Connor's fearless forward, was in tears. And her coach and teammates had never seen her so emotional.

“I think she knew it, but she really, truly didn't want to admit it,” former O'Connor coach Gina Dylla said of the extent of Jasper's injury.

A day later, sitting in Dr. David Schmidt's office, the worst-case scenario was realized: Jasper had torn her anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus, busted her knee capsule and had the medial collateral ligament pulled from the bone. With surgery, consisting of inserting three screws and using a hamstring tendon to reconstruct the ACL, and rehab, Schmidt told her, she might be able to return to playing soccer again in eight or nine months.

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“I was crying,” Jasper said of hearing the news. “My mom (D'anka Grauel) was crying. With how much damage there was, they didn't know if I'd be able to play again.”

Today, Jasper is an example of dedication, determination and a strong work ethic. A senior forward, she has a team-best 15 goals for the Panthers (18-5-0), who play at Southwest at 6 tonight in a Class 5A bidistrict match.

“I watched her cry, scream and try to quit on me during her rehab,” O'Connor trainer Scott Lawrence said of Jasper, who was cleared to play again less than six months after surgery. “Knowing how hard she worked, and the results we have made, makes me happier than I have words to explain. I am very proud of her and what she has accomplished.”

'Worst night of my life'

Nearly 14 months ago, Jasper couldn't begin to grasp what had happened to her as she lay on the turf at Farris Stadium. One moment she was poised to score a go-ahead goal just 21/2 minutes into the game against Brandeis. The next, she was on the ground after colliding with an opponent, holding her left knee, wincing in pain, tears filling her eyes.

“It was the worst pain I've ever felt in my whole life,” she said. “I think I blacked out for a few seconds, because I don't really remember a lot. Everyone knew something was wrong because they've never seen me cry. It's like the worst night of my life.”

And it only got worse.

At home after the injury, Jasper was confined to a downstairs couch, still disoriented as her parents tried to get her to eat.

“I couldn't stop shaking,” Jasper recalled. “I remember I tensed up, and my knee completely shifted to the left because my MCL was gone. I started screaming. My dad (Rob Grauel) isn't one to freak out, but I could see it in his eyes.”

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Jasper's ailments

A look at the injuries suffered by O'Connor senior forward Brittany Jasper during a February 2011 district game against Brandeis:

Anterior cruciate ligament: Tear had to be reconstructed by using a tendon from left hamstring. Two screws were used to attach the ligament.

Meniscus: Tear repaired by trimming away damaged portion. Doctor told her she'll have to have a meniscal transplant.

Medical collateral ligament: A screw was inserted to reattach it after it was ripped from the bone.

Knee capsule: This casing, which provides joint fluid for the soft tissues of the knee (muscles, tendon and fascia), was busted. Usually heals on its own.

— Terrence Thomas

Jasper's mother stayed with her the entire night, holding her knee in place so that it wouldn't shift again.

“The first 16 hours after being injured were something I never wish on anyone,” D'anka Grauel said. “Her body was so traumatized that she passed out three times.”

Nowadays, Jasper said she doesn't think about the injury much. There will always be reminders — the knee brace she wears, the arthritis her doctor told her she will have and the transplant she'll eventually need to fix her meniscus.

But nothing — not the six weeks on crutches, nor the two weeks in a wheelchair, nor the countless hours doing physical therapy — has kept Jasper from realizing she achieved what seemed impossible.

“I knew that my hard work would pay off, and now I'm back playing again,” Jasper said. “I'm happier than I've ever been. I might not be as fast, but I think I'm a better player.”